Budapest’s surrounding areas face disruptions in drinking water service due to insufficient infrastructure development to meet population demands. Despite this, significant funds – tens of billions of forints – were recently invested in constructing water pipelines. However, these pipelines were not built to serve the residential population. The investment instead appears to have been directed towards supporting the construction of battery factories in the region. This discrepancy raises concerns about resource allocation and priorities within Hungary’s recent infrastructure spending. The situation highlights a potential misdirection of public funds, favoring industrial projects over essential public services. Locals are now experiencing the consequences of inadequate water infrastructure. This comes amidst the final years of the Orbán government’s tenure.